A Season of Hope

Heartland #17

by Lauren Brooke

Heartland is a horse farm nestled in the hills of Virginia, but it's much more than that. Heartland is like no other place - it's a place where the scars of the past can be healed, a place where frightened and abused horses learn to trust again.

Amy knows Ty's father, Brad Baldwin, doesn't want his son working with horses, and she's relieved that Ty is dedicated to Heartland just the same. But everything changes when Brad makes an emergency stop at Heartland with his truck. Amy is horrified when she finds out that he has transported horses in an illegal trailer. The horses are sick and dehydrated, and one is barely a year old. With Brad's job and seven horses' lives on the line, Ty and Amy have to stand up for what they think is right - and believe that hope has the strength to heal.

Genres: Horses, Young Adult, Fiction, Animals, Childrens, Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction

168 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Lauren Brooke grew up in a ranch in Virginia and now lives in Leicestershire, England. Her husband is a veterinarian who specializes in horses. Her books have been published by Scholastic since Mid-2000, starting with the first book of the Heartland book series. The first book of her popular Chestnut Hill series was published in 2005.

According to an interview on scholastics' website, Lauren Brooke has been riding since before she could walk. She also said she competes in a few local-level horse shows and events.

There may be some other people in books and movies named Lauren Brooke:
Amazon lists the author of "Book of spiritual regeneration" (1995) as Lauren Brooke.
IMDB.com has a record for an Actress named Lauren Brooke. Her only movie is "Wiseguys vs. Zombies" (2003) as Goat Man's Wife.

Reviews

[Stef Rozitis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did my best to leave my brain at the door and just enjoy the fact that this was all about horses. The confusing number of characters with a lot of backstory that was only obliquely referred to is understandable now that I realise this is book number 17 (I'd recommend reading the series in order if at all) but it seems like every other book leading to this one must have featured some couple getting together because the book was peppered with (heterosexual couples). The first chapter, every other character was introduced as someone's boyfriend or fiance- and even the protagonist's grandfather has a "girlfriend". Where in a book like this are the undateable, the "noone knows" and the queer characters? The broken up, the serial dysfunctional monogamy and the thousand other variations of an ACTUAL social group get tidied up into everyone is half a dyad and the movement of a series is to connect all the dyads together.

Then nothing much happens until p47. People talk about wedding plans (it does turn out to sort of have relevance but it lacks punchiness) watch TV together and there is the character, Soraya who must have had an important role in a previous book I suppose, but in this adds a pointless side-story about some boyfriend dramas leading to some mild best-friend conflict which gets resolved really blandly without much ever having happened, and without having touched the actual thrust of the plot. It seems more like a TV show or anything where the author's need to include every actor in every episode overrides any idea of plot.

Then Brad's story is really simple and gets really easily untangled without any problematisation. I guess that was all that can fit a 143 page book where over half of it is descriptions of people holding hands or talking about holding hands (I am actually unsure it passes the Bechdel test). Oh I guess a lot of it was descriptions of patting horses too which to me was more palatable. There are some real issues around what is portrayed as happening to Brad and around the real fear people have of unemployment, but in this convenient universe he just does what is right and it all comes out right for him. Also money is conveniently found to buy out the problem (it was sort of a sweet twist but also a very privileged one).

I am not against this book or series, I guess when I was a horse-loving 14 year old I probably would have loved it (hippy herbal medicines and all). But to me as an adult it seems needlessly bland and a bit shallow. But then again I have read stuff that was a lot worse...

[David Burnworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might have been the best of the best in this series. Lost in the world we live in today the message of the family being the most important thing in life is lost but in this book and series family is the most important thing in life and it shows in this story. Lou, whose' character I like a lot more in the book series than I do on the TV series comes through in a huge way and in doing so brought tears to my old eyes.

[Amanda Schell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore the heartland series!!! All of them! And in case you were wondering the TV series is pretty good too <3

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amy is just getting used to Lou making wedding plans and trying to figure out an argument she's had with her best friend Soraya when Ty's father pulls into Heartland with a cattle trailer full of horses. Two are practically dead, while the others are injured, severely dehydrated, and in poor health. Everyone at Heartland rushes to care for the horses, while Ty's father Brad is more concerned about his job. They must convince Brad that the horses' welfare is more important than a job...

For so long, Heartland has been about figuring out horse's behavioral problems for caring and well-meaning owners. It was nice to see the series get back to dealing with abused horses as they had more in the beginning. There were a couple of minor issues with other horses, including a show horse that was perfect in the ring but scared in the open, and another horse who becomes afraid to enter the barn. But most of the story was about dealing with the abused horses and how to keep them from going back to the auction house that owned them.

[Clemence D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Des nuages noirs viennent assomnbrir le ciel d'Heartland ! le père de Ted, engagé pour une livraison tenue secrète, s'aperçoit qu'il transporte sans ménagement dans son camion des chevaux qui souffrent tous de déshydratation !

Laura, de son côté, est cernée par les histoires de couple mais une de ses préoccupations principales est sans doute le mariage de Lou et Scott qui approche, entraînant le départ de sa soeur que Laura à encore du mal à affronter !

Encore un tome très sympas et je recommande (encore et toujours) cette série à 200% !

En plus de ça, John, qui a trouvé une place chez Nick Halliwell, demande à Laura d'aider Apollo, un étalon capricieux qui refuse de sortir de son enclos.

[Tibbara's Den · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another one where the story doesn't quite match up to the previous books. Duke was in one book and then wasn't mentioned again until this book, where he was suddenly one of the horses that was part of the storm incident, which wasn't the case. Also, the Soraya/Matt situation is purely added for the drama and doesn't fit Soraya's character at all. I liked how Ben was included here, but that storyline got a little lost with the main situation. The author brings it back around in the end, but it was a little frustrating. Otherwise, I really was pulled in by the situation with the transport horses. I wish the author had just focused on that instead of adding the other horse (she could still have included Ben without it) and the Soraya/Matt situation.

[Meg R White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably my favourite of all or the Heartland books. Ty’s dad arrives at with a cattle truck full of severely neglected horses and the people at Heartland work to help them without thought of money and nearly have to put them on that same truck again to go for meat when Lou buys them with money for her wedding. It’s so inspiring and reminds me so much of what we do at Little Hesteyri. Sometimes saving animals costs everything but you get something back that nothing compares to.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is always one of the harder ones to get through, given most of the content matter, and it's nice to see Brad's change of heart towards what Ty does as a job.
Even though I love these books as much as I did when I was at school several years ago, the argument between Amy and Soraya seemed childish and definitely not on the same level as the other events- Lou's wedding plans, the horses Brad brings- but at least this ends on a mostly happy note.

[kat♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

well this one was also a really good read from the series. it held the powerful reminder that sometimes things are out of our control and we just have to trust the process. however hard that may be. although, there were a few plots that just seemed to fade into the background so i didnt LOVE that but it was still a good read! and with the close of this book, im nearing the end of my stay at heartland but im not entirely sure im ready to leave just yet

[Wiksiaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

już traciłam nadzieję po ostatnich kilku częściach bo były dla mnie zdecydowanie słabsze, ale ten tom z powrotem mi ją przywrócił. Bardzo przyjemnie mi się to czytało, z resztą jak większość części Heartlandu, bo przeczytałam tą książkę praktycznie na raz ❤️ I chyba do tej pory przez wszystkie 17 części żaden z koni nie poruszył mnie tak bardzo jak Patyczek ❤️‍🩹 to był taki słodziak 😍 ogólnie cała część jest bardzo wzruszająca i zdecydowanie podnosi na duchu ☀️🐴 oby tak dalej

[Stefanie Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ty's father, a cretin, has a rickety trailer full of injured, sickly horses. Ty and Amy go up against a grown adult to demand that he stop being a trash human and give up the horses. For someone who does not want their son to work with horses, he really shouldn't have anything to do with them. I just did not like this book. It is probably the worst book in the series, in my opinion.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was similar to an actual episode on the tv series. I like the relationship between Ty and his dad better in the books than on the tv show.
I’m also enjoying learning about ways to help troubled horses. This us a great series. I’ll be sad when I’ve read the last book.

[Alex Apostol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one, even though it was sometimes hard to read because of the conditions of the overheated, dehydrated horses. I can't believe someone would do this. Amy and her family do what it takes to save them.

[Tara Warner · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️ rounded up.

I don't really review these anymore, but I wanted to do a review for this one. I felt like this was a weaker one in the series. I felt like the fight with Soraya wasn't really needed because it didn't really add much to the story in my opinion.

[Kirsty McCracken · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was nice to see a family dynamic outside of the Fleming's little bubble in this one - getting to meet Ty's ever mentioned and yet never present father was a nice change.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite book in the Heartland series for sure

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this one has been my favorite so far!

[Lcecnca · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,75

[Katie Hildreth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good book to read. It was similar to the tv show. I like to compare the book and tv show.

[Olivia H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it! What a great ending too! Very happy with the turnout, and pleased that the book was never boring. Definitely recommend this book and it’s series!

[Nadja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ik denk dat ik mijn hele jeugd heb besteed aan huilen over dit boek.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such a harrowing, emotional read. I was so pleased it had a hopeful ending!

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4,25⭐️

[Nicole scanlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

i like they book a lot i like horses a lot too i ride a horse too her name is charlie she is a girl horse

[AmbWitch · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I first read A Season of Hope it was by far my favourite in the series and as I reread, I agreed with my younger self. There was a lot more drama in this book and it differed from the standard plot set out of the others in the series, making it more of an interesting read, even if it was a little upsetting in some places. Of course, there’s no way that each book could be packed with as much excitement as it would take away any realism that the series may hold.


I’ve always really enjoyed the characterisation in this series as the characters tend to be realistic and believable. In A Season of Hope we are reintroduced to Ty’s father, Brad, who we have only seen briefly before. He’s caught in a bit of a hard place as he wants to protect his career so that he can support his family but is concerned for the welfare of his cargo. We get to see part of his mental battle as he tries to figure out what he should do and in the end he chooses to do the right thing, though it could jeopardise his work.


We also get to see more of his relationship with his son. Already we know that it is a strained one but until now, it has always been in the background, something that is mentioned but never really gone into. Now, we get to look at it more closely and get to see it start to improve due to the situation they find themselves and as Brad gets to understand more about what his son does.


The plot with Soraya didn’t interest me in the slightest. In fact, her character doesn’t really interest me (bit of a contradiction to my previous paragraph). I can understand why she was being paranoid about Mat but how she reacted to it and how she responded to Amy was so childish. I do have to keep in mind that Soraya is only young and that if I was her age, I might be more likely to react the same way she does (I like to think that I wouldn’t). I’m not sure why I’ve never been interested in Soraya. It could be that, although she’s best friends with Amy we don’t really see all that much of her so she isn’t as well developed as some of the other characters.


After reading this book again, it is still one of my favourite in the series and I find it’s incredibly easy to read in one sitting. The length and simplicity of the others allow me to read them as quickly, but this is the one that I could, without getting bored (although there are parts that drag a little). Despite this, I will still be getting rid of this book (most likely sending it to charity), as I have outgrown it. I feel that the series has a very specific target audience, young teens that are interested in horses and that if you’re not one of those, it would hold little interest to you. There was a time I fit that group, but no longer.

[Isabella Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read by Lauren Brooke about Amy’s adventures and the horses she helps at Heartland!

In this story, we get to meet Ty’s (the stable hand and family friend) father, Brad Baldwin, as he suddenly arrives at Heartland with a loaded, illegal lorry he was meant to drive to Pennsylvania. In desperation for help, Brad explains that there are seven horses inside with no water or food and he is at a loss of what to do. As Amy sees the horses inside her heart goes out to them and she does all she can to help. But will Amy be able to help them all recover? And will Brad put his job on the line to stand up for what is right? 🐴

*Feel free to check out my overview for the Heartland series over on my Substack blog:

https://thepaintedcaravan.substack.co...

Isabella Ann of The Painted Caravan ♡

[Dr. Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Season of Hope

Rating: 4/5

This is a series I have loved since I was younger. This series brought me into the world of horses and actually helped me believe in following my dream of being a veterinarian. This series made me want to own a whole farm of horses.

I enjoyed this book since it was less tweeny bopper to say. In some of the books, it seemed that the only emotions Amy expressed were anger and crying her eyes out. She has definitely matured as the series progressed.

As always my favorite part of this book is seeing Amy and the gang treat the horses. I really loved the new horse, Spindleberry. He was so cute, rebellious and energetic!!! I really loved the addition of Joni, she’s awesome. Usually these books focus on Amy’s problems, but this time, we got to see some of Ty’s problems. I loved seeing his relationship with his father slowly improve through the novel.

Though this is definitely not a YA book, I think teenagers could enjoy it, especially if you like horses.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

when I first started reading this book I did not realise it was book 19 in the series, but it was easy to follow and easy to read, also it doesn't really contain many technical horse related words and the ones that are mentions (with having horses of my own I knew what they meant anyway)are explained clearly.
I enjoyed the plot though it was rather simple and only contained about one twist.
I felt Amy and Ty's relationship seemed a little too perfect, there was never a disagreement and most of the time Ty would only have to touch Amy's arm and she would stop from saying something or would suddenly feel better. and often it was easy to forget they were together because they didn't really do anything relationship wise e.g; go out together and do things alone like the cinema etc.
I was surprised how the ending just sort of stopped, which I think could have been better.
overall it was a good easy readable book xxxx

[Sully · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Heartland novel that has a dark(ish) theme, but at least this one ends on mostly happy notes. The Heartland family continues to grow and grow! Lou's wedding plans continue forward and a batch of horses arrive at Heartland, complements of Ty's father. Again, always good to see Ty's character developed, and Brooke certainly did that with his relationship with his father in this book. Joni seems to be fitting in at Heartland better than Ben ever did, but for some reason I just haven't warmed up to her yet. I don't know if it's because she's a replacement or because she seems to be catching on too quickly or what, but hopefully she will grow on me!

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another Heartland book... As I've mentioned before, this series is a fast read aimed at the preteens, but it's cute and interesting at times. This book is another scenario we saw in the tv show, and it is a bit of a downer. I'm not sure what else to say, this is a pretty standard addition to the series and I recommend it if you're a fan.